Offense better than you think

[Stash]

Way too many FGs in the RZ this year.

Or worse, field goal misses.

Let's face it, the Cowboys managed to screw up what should have been a blow-out win against the Titans. They should have been up on that team by 17 points before half the fans reached their seats. Blowing that opportunity gave us the outcome that we got.

And more missed opportunities against both Philly and Atlanta nearly cost them both of those games as well. While I am seeing some offensive improvement overall since Cooper got here, I'm still not seeing it in the red zone, where it matters most.

 

[Stash]

One has to admit, that Dallas drives are tending to get longer and more efficient. At least until the Red Zone appears...

Yes, on both counts.

 

[CCBoy]

Looking at the average number of points a team gives up can be misleading because the average depends on the offenses a team faces. For example, Atlanta gave up 43 points to New Orlenas (in an overtime game) and 41 to Pittsburgh. Only three of the 10 teams they faced scored fewer against them than we did. (All three of them were from the low-scoring NFC East.) If you want to give us 27 points, then still only three teams scored fewer against them.

I agree with your observation, though, that we play ball-control, which means we're not going to score as much as some of the more wide-open offenses, and that's going to help keep those more wide-open offenses from scoring more against us if we have long drives like we did against Atlanta. My only issue with it is you end up with a lot of close games like this one where it comes down to having to make a last-second field goal.

Oh, man...thinking of a last second field goal kick leaves me in questions at present. I better listen to that part on the radio...

 

[CCBoy]

Or worse, field goal misses.

Let's face it, the Cowboys managed to screw up what should have been a blow-out win against the Titans. They should have been up on that team by 17 points before half the fans reached their seats. Blowing that opportunity gave us the outcome that we got.

And more missed opportunities against both Philly and Atlanta nearly cost them both of those games as well. While I am seeing some offensive improvement overall since Cooper got here, I'm still not seeing it in the red zone, where it matters most.

Stash, on the Titans game, I told the wife after the first quarter...that the Cowboys just lost that game. They did.

Sometimes, I just should bite my tongue...huh?

 

[Aviano90]

It’s not hard to be better than most people think when so many people are so far on the extreme negative with their opinions. The offense isn’t good but isn’t as bad at the extremists portray it either.

 

[charron]

Cole Beasley would disagree about the no touchdowns. He should have caught that!

We've had plenty of chances but very little production as dak has a putrid 11 touchdowns through the air. If Beasley makes the catch that's 12 in 10 games which isn't much better.

 

[Stash]

Stash, on the Titans game, I told the wife after the first quarter...that the Cowboys just lost that game. They did.

Sometimes, I just should bite my tongue...huh?

I said the exact same thing in the game thread. I think my quote was that "they just managed to screw up a blowout win".

Here's my exact quote:

How to screw up a would-be blowout...

 

[CCBoy]

I said the exact same thing in the game thread. I think my quote was that "they just managed to screw up a blowout win".

No argument from this fan...oh, and my wife told me to just be nice.....

 

[Stash]

No argument from this fan...oh, and my wife told me to just be nice.....

Mine just leaves the room!

 

[Stash]

It’s not hard to be better than most people think when so many people are so far on the extreme negative with their opinions. The offense isn’t good but isn’t as bad at the extremists portray it either.

For perspective:

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...nference=ALL&d-447263-s=TOTAL_POINTS_GAME_AVG

 

[CCBoy]

For perspective:

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...nference=ALL&d-447263-s=TOTAL_POINTS_GAME_AVG

Hey, but Washington is averaging even less.

 

[Stash]

Hey, but Washington is averaging even less.

Hopefully holds true on Thursday.

 

[Sarge]

Atlanta has one of the worst defenses in the league and they are decimated by injuries. We should have laid at least a 30 burger on them - easily IMO.

 

[CCBoy]

Hopefully holds true on Thursday.

Stash, I had to voice out a Hoooooooooaaaaah!

 

[CCBoy]

Atlanta has one of the worst defenses in the league and they are decimated by injuries. We should have laid at least a 30 burger on them - easily IMO.

Sarge, can't argue...

 

[Sarge]

https://cowboyszone.com/threads/11-19-random-stats.420783/#post-8701894

Offense

Total = 27th
Points = 25th
Passing = 28th
Rushing = 4th

Not pretty (overall) - that's not gonna get it done. If I were playing the Cowboys I'd put 11 in the box.

 

[percyhoward]

In the 2016 draft, we took a RB in the 1st and a QB in the 4th. Then over the next two years, our established QB and his All-Pro pass catchers reach their expiration dates.

Offense
Total = 27th
Points = 25th
Passing = 28th
Rushing = 4th

The offense probably isn't any better or worse than we think. It's about what we could have predicted it would be.

 

[TheSkaven]

I'm content with a +5 point victory margin for every game.

This.

Whether we win 22-17 or 34-29, the most important stat is that we win.

Our defense has consistently held teams under 21 points this year. Only twice in 10 weeks has a team scored more than 20.

Therefore 24 to 27 points per game should do the trick. Or, 5 points more than the other team.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Lol. Such pathetic comments on several threads. For the past 2 weeks, y'all were saying Garrett, Dak and this team could not beat such high powered teams like the iggles and falcons. Now that the Cowboys destroyed them, here comes more "let's see what they do in 10 days against the Saints?"

Always excuses, instead of accepting, crediting, jumping on board and supporting.

And when we limit the saints to under 24 points we will hear how the saints just had a bad game

 

[Flamma]

Maybe it’s just frustration because Garrett and/or Dak have clawed their way out of the dumpster, at least temporarily and I get that but I am shocked at this forum the last two days.

Why is there so much hate directed towards our offense after Sunday’s performance?

First let’s break down some numbers...

The Falcons defense, prior to Sunday’s game, was allowing about 28 points a game. We scored 22, even the most pessimistic fan can admit that our offense played good enough for 5 additional points with the Beasley drop and the missed PAT. 27 points puts us on par with what the Falcons typically give up and that number is also in the same ballpark of our 2016 offense.

First and goal from the 3 yard line. Beasley shouldn't be dropping a pass because it shouldn't be a pass play to begin with. Four plays straight into their line, no way we don't score there. A pass play should be something rarely done to take a defense by surprise. With Dallas it's par for the course.

We were 7/13 on 3rd down which is also a huge improvement. We also did not turn the ball over. Falcons have recorded an interception in 7 of their 9 games before they played us. Obviously we would like to get back to the point where we can trust Dak not to throw interceptions but at this point, we are looking for improvement and 1 over the last 5 games is just that.

Now...I am sure I’ll hear some complaining about check downs and lack of big plays.

When you don't take any chances you rarely throw interceptions. Dak will hit an already open WR. He will at times throw a good pass to a WR in tight coverage. But what he doesn't do, and this is why his interceptions are down, is throw a tight window pass where a WR is only open momentarily.

I get that...but I also believe the team made a decision to play that way. The only way the Falcons were going to beat us is by throwing the football to their big play receivers. The goal was to control the flow of the game which our offense and especially our defense did well. Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb combined for 7 receptions and 2 scores the week before..once Deion Jones was listed as out, a game plan emphasizing the short passing game seemed like a good option. Even the most brilliant offensive minds would agree to that.

Make no mistake, our defense held on long enough for our offense to get their crap together. That interception by LVE was a gift from Ridley. It was a perfectly thrown ball that bounced off of his hands and Darth Vander just swallowed it up because he seems to be everywhere.

Now I get that there will be a time when we need more than 22 or maybe even 27 points. Most of us thought it would have been against the Falcons. I am making no wild predictions of offensive greatness or fantasy football worthy performances from anyone not named Zeke but that is just not how this offense is designed...maybe you hate it and that’s okay.

My observations from the game were that the offense looked a lot like 2016. The game flowed through Zeke and Dak managed the game. The offense didn’t turn the ball over, concerted 3rd downs and “closed the game” when it came time. The fact is we are a run first team that is playing good defense. This is not an exciting or flashy offense BUT....when they are playing up to their potential and Linehan doesn’t cal the plays like a HS coordinator, they are very efficient and compliment the defense nicely.

I agree in the last two games we saw shades of 2016, but no consistency. If Dallas gives the Saints that many chances before we wake up the game will be lost by halftime. And if I'm not mistaken, the Saints have a better D than the Falcons.